Betrothal's Price

Chapter 17: Who Done It

Liam barely let the news sink in before he shot his head towards Jonathan, “Where did you say you saw her?” He asked almost instantaneously.

Jonathan thought for a minute, “Neaw… the… the tap… the tape..”

“Tapestry?”

“Yeah!”

Immediately, Liam bolted. He was gonna find her. He ran like he’d never run before as he raced to get to her. Jonathan could barely keep up with him, and Levi walked, briskly following both of them.

The very second Isla was in sight, Liam sped up even more. He wasn’t letting anything happen to her.

“Isla!” He called out and finally reached her. He sped up to hug her, his arms tightly holding her, without promise to loosen.

Surprised, Isla just let him hug her, but she was too confused to consider returning the tight embrace, “L-Liam?!”

Levi kept his composure when he saw Everett. He nodded, “Everett.” He said with hidden contempt.

Everett did the same, “Levi.”

Jonathan waved, “Hewo, Mistew Efewett! Hi, Iswa!”

Isla still stood in shock, “Um.. Liam, wh- what’s wrong?” She lightly patted his back with her left hand.

Liam pulled back after 7 straight minutes, loosening his grip, and bringing hands to her shoulders. He looked around and realized he looked like an idiot with no excuse. He looked back at her, letting his thumbs caress her shoulders. “I- um… L-Leo said you hurt yourself. I was just- I got worried.”

Isla gave him a ridiculing look, “Why is everyone so worried over a papercut? Seriously, it’s just a papercut!”

Liam turned red, “Oh. Well, it sounded more severe.”

“Well, it’s not.”

“Uh.. Okay, so um.. Jon wants to play so….”

Isla glanced at where Liam’s hands were, and what they were doing, “S-Sure. My last responsibilities are, in a way, postponed because of the funeral, so we can play.” She agreed as her cheeks turned pink. She had a feeling that Liam was lying, but she played along to find out later. He probably wanted to talk to her.

Liam smiled awkwardly, “Great! Jonathan, you coming?” He grabbed Isla’s hand, intertwining their fingers as he enjoyed doing quite often, and pulled her along to Jonathan’s room, while Jonathan followed excitedly.

Levi left and rounded to Liam’s destination without Everett’s awareness. Coming to Petra every summer had some perks. He knew the castle like the back of his own hand.

Liam brought them to Jonathan’s bedroom. No one would find or look for them there. Levi joined them shortly.

Once the door was closed, Liam sighed in relief, and he embraced Isla in a hug again with his free hand.

Isla gently but firmly took his arm away from around her, and looked at him like he was crazy, “Hold on. W-What’s goin’ on?”

Liam brought his hand to Isla’s shoulder, keeping their other hands intertwined. “Isla, I know you’re not gonna like this. You may not even believe me, but… how do I put this? Everett is.. he’s… Everett’s a Scath!”

Isla remained silent for a moment. “Wait. But h-how is he.. That doesn’t….”

Levi stepped up, “Sit down. You’re going to need to.” He told her. “Everett has been a Scath for years.”

Isla shook her head, “But wouldn’t we be infected by now? And- and why would they get Uncle Everett? How would they.. How could they…” She couldn’t believe it, but it - in the slightest way- did  make some sense. That must’ve been why Everett was seeming to care, suddenly. Not because he did.